Inflatable bag for bottles packaging

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an inflatable bag for bottles packaging. The bag consists of a pair of connecting unit located at each edge of predetermined gas pocket unit. The connecting unit consists of one vertical and one horizontal welding line forming H shape. The outer edges on the H shape are cut to form U shape breaches. After inflation, due to the stress relief effect of the breaches, the outer part of the gas pocket units beyond the horizontal welding line forms top and bottom sides of cylindrical spaces suitable for containing and protecting cylindrical bottle or can from mechanical impact. One or more pair of connecting unit can be constructed so that plural cylindrical space can be formed to contain and protect plural cylindrical bottles or cans from broken during shipping and handling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an inflatable bag for bottles packaginghaving plural cylindrically closed spaces. Between each pair ofcylindrical portion, there is a pair of gas pocket units connected bygas channel. The U-shape breach on outer edge of gas pocket units allowsformation of top and bottom side of cylindrical portion to enclosespaces. The cylindrical interior space generated after inflation issuitable for packing cylindrical bottles or cans. Due to the geometricalconformity, it provides better protection during shipping and handling.

2. Brief Description of Related Art

Bubble wrap is one of popular devices for packing and protectingcommercial articles. It is able to absorb exterior impact by a pluralityof uniform air pockets. Its ability of absorbing impact is limitedbecause the air pockets are too small.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,165,677 disclose an air-packing device is configured byfirst and second plastic films which are bonded at predeterminedportions thereby creating a plurality of series connected air cells. Aplurality of check valves established at inputs of the corresponding aircontainers. And an air input connected to the plurality of check valves.Through a post heat-seal treatments, predetermined edge portions arebonded, there creating an inner space for packing a product therein andan opening for loading the product therethrough. According to the FIGS.8A and 8B as the said U.S. Pat. No. 7,165,677, the packing device isuseful for packing a cylindrically shaped product such as a wine bottle.The patented air-packing device is able to pack only one wine bottle.One such device is unable to pack plural cylindrical bottles and providesuitable protection against impact at the same time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable bag forpackaging of bottles or cans in cylindrical shape. The gas pocket unitsconnected by connecting units ensure the formation of cylindricalinterior spaces. A pair of connecting units sat between each pair ofneighboring cylindrical spaces. A special U-shape breach on outer edgeof connecting units provide stress relief and allow formation of top andbottom side of the two neighboring cylindrically closed spaces connectedby the connecting unit during inflation. The plural independentcylindrical spaces conform to geometry of bottles or cans and providebetter protection against mechanical impact.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable bagwith configurable plural cylindrical interior spaces in series forbottles or cans with cylindrical shape. The inflatable bag with pluralcylindrical spaces facilitates shipping and handling of products withcylindrical shape.

In order to achieve the preceding objects, one embodiment of theinflated bag for bottles packaging is composed of a plurality of gaspocket units, each of gas pocket units consist of a main gas pockethaving larger width and an auxiliary gas pocket having smaller width;welding line having conduits sat between main gas pocket and auxiliarygas pocket, the gas pocket unit is side by side with another, andwelding line is located in between, and there are no conduits installedon said welding line, the gas pocket units are isolated between each andgas can not flow between each other; thereby, when any main gas pocketsor auxiliary gas pockets is broken, gas in which have left out, theother gas pockets still keep gas in it own; there is a gas inlet on sideof the inflatable bag for bottles packaging, a gas channel extend fromthe gas inlet and is connecting to each of main and auxiliary gaspockets, and gas can be entered though the gas channel; when theinflatable bag for bottles packaging is charged with gas from the gasinlet, gas will go along the gas channel to enter each of main andauxiliary gas pockets and inflates them; the inflatable bag for bottlespackaging is composed of two films—upper film and lower film;

characterized in that the inflatable bag equipped with one pair ofconnecting unit which locate at each edge of predetermined set of mainand auxiliary gas pocket; the connecting unit consists of verticalwelding line and horizontal welding line which form H configuration bybinding the upper and lower film; the connecting unit is completed bycutting out the outer edges to form U shape breaches; and due to thestress relief effect of the breach while the inflatable bag is fullyexpanded by the charged gas, the outer part of the gas pocket unitsbeyond the horizontal welding line are allowed to form the top andbottom side of the two neighboring cylindrical containers which areconnected by connecting unit and are suitable for protecting cylindricalbottles or cans from mechanical impact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detail structure, the applied principle, the function and theeffectiveness of the present invention can be fully understood withreference to the following description and accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the obverse side of the inflatable bag forbottles packaging of the present invention which is uncharged with gas;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the reverse side of the inflatable bag forbottles packaging of the present invention, uncharged with gas;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating both of the obverse and reverseside of the inflatable bag for bottles packaging along line 3-3 shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the obverse side of the inflatable bag forbottles packaging of the present invention while gas is charging;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view along line 5-5 shown in FIG. 3while gas is charging;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view along line 5-5 shown in FIG. 3after inflation;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the present invention while theinflatable bag for bottles is fully expanded by the charged gas;

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating another preferred embodiment ofpresent invention which is uncharged with gas; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating another preferred embodimentof present invention while the inflatable bag for bottles is fullyexpanded by the charged gas.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the inflatable bag for bottles packaging of thepresent invention is composed of a plurality of gas pocket units 10.Each of gas pocket units 10 consist of a main gas pocket 11 havinglarger width and an auxiliary gas pocket 12 having smaller width.Welding line 31 sat between main gas pocket 11 and auxiliary gas pocket12. Conduits 30 are installed along welding lines 31 by distance of10˜15 centimeters, such that gas in the main gas pockets 11 andauxiliary gas pocket 12 can be flowed through conduits 30. However, gaspocket unit 10 is side by side with another, and welding line 32 islocated in between, and there are no conduits installed on said weldingline 32. The gas pocket units 10 are isolated between each and gas cannot flow between each other. Thereby, when any main gas pockets 11 orauxiliary gas pockets 12 is broken, gas in which have left out, theother gas pockets still keep gas in it own. There is a gas inlet 2 onside of the inflatable bag for bottles packaging 1, a gas channel 14extend from the gas inlet 2 and is connecting to each of main andauxiliary gas pockets 11,12, and gas can be entered though the gaschannel 14. When the inflatable bag for bottles packaging 1 is chargedwith gas from the gas inlet 2, gas will go along the gas channel 14 andenters each of main and auxiliary gas pockets 11, 12 and inflates them.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the FIG. 2 shows the reverse side of theinflatable bag for bottles packaging 1 when it is uncharged with gas,and the FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view including the obverse andreverse side of the inflatable bag for bottles packaging 1 along line3-3 shown in FIG. 1. The inflatable bag for bottles packaging 1 iscomposed of two films, upper film 21 and lower film 22, both of whichare made of plastic or similar materials. The periphery of said films ispressed welding along line 35 by high temperature, which seal up theinflatable bag for bottles packaging 1 and prevent gas from escape. Thecheck valves of the gas pockets are composed of two films, upper valvefilm 25 and lower valve film 26, which are of appropriate length andplaced between upper and lower films 21, 22. Welding lines 31, 32, 35are formed by binding upper and lower films 21,22 and upper and lowervalve films 25,26 together using hot press. And an anti-welding layer 33located near gas channel 14 is placed between upper and lower valvefilms 25, 26. It is to avoid upper and lower valve films 25, 26 bindingtogether while the welding line 36 is formed by hot press. The weldingline 36 located at the pocket inlet 45 of the gas pocket units 10 isformed by hot pressing on films 21, 22, 25 and 26. In this way, saidanti-welding layer 33 allow gas charging though upper and lower valvefilms 25, 26 at pocket inlet 45 found in each main and auxiliary gaspockets 11,12. Still Referring to FIG. 1, there are gas guiding weldingspots 34 on the upper and lower valve films 25, 26. They are formed bybinding upper film 21, upper valve film 25 and lower valve film 26together using hot press. The upper and lower valve films 25, 26,anti-welding layer 33 and gas guiding welding spots 34 together act ascheck valves, which be able to seal the pocket inlet 45 of each gaspocket units 10 when the inflatable bag for bottles packaging 1 ischarged with gas, and making gas pocket units 10 gastight aftercharging.

Further, folding lines 41, 42, 43, 44 located appropriately at each mainand auxiliary gas pocket 11, 12, allow automatic bending of each mainand auxiliary gas pockets 11, 12 when the bag is charged with gas.Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, successive folding along 35, 41, 42, 43 and44 will form a closed envelope to protect bottles article inside againstimpact from any direction.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the inflatable bag for bottlespackaging 1 of the present invention equipped with one pair ofconnecting unit 60 which locate at each edge of predetermined set ofmain and auxiliary gas pocket 11, 12. The connecting unit 60 consists ofvertical welding line 61 and horizontal welding line 62 which forms Hconfiguration by hot pressing the upper and lower film 21, 22. Theconnecting unit 60 is completed by cutting out the outer part to form Ushape breach 63.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the inflatable bag for bottles packaging 1 ischarged through the gas inlet 2 with gas, the gas will go along the gaschannel 14 and enter each of main and auxiliary gas pockets 11, 12. Saidgas guiding welding spots 34 allow gas entering main and auxiliary gaspockets 11, 12 easily. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, which illustrate asectional view of charged main and auxiliary gas pockets 11, 12 alongline 5-5 shown in FIG. 3. After charging, the upper valve film 25 andthe lower valve film 26 will be pressed tightly toward upper film 21 byhigh pressure in main and auxiliary gas pockets 11, 12. The gas guidingwelding spots 34 bind upper film 21, upper valve film 25 and lower valvefilm 26 together by hot press. Therefore upper and lower valve films 25,26 will be pressed toward upper film 21 instead of the lower film 22.The upper and lower valve films 25, 26, and upper film 21 are made ofplastic or similar film materials, which will close pocket inlet 45 andgastight each main and auxiliary gas pockets 11, 12 while upper andlower valve films 25,26 are pressed toward upper film 21. Thereby, themain and auxiliary gas pockets 11,12 contain gas, and the welding spots34 assist gastight effect.

Referring to FIG. 7, showing an inflated bag for bottles packaging 1 inwhich all gas pocket unit 10 are inflated and bended along 41, 42, 43and 44 and form 3 dimensional pockets. Due to the stress relief effectof the U shape breach 63 on connecting unit 60, the outer part beyondthe bending spots 41, 42, 43, and 44 of gas pocket unit 10 forms top andbottom sides of the two neighboring cylindrical containers which isconnected by connecting unit 60 and are suitable for protectingcylindrical bottles or cans from mechanical impact. After inflation, gaschannel 14 does not contain pressurized gas, and is always flattened.Bottle is put into cylindrical space through opening 50, and theflattened gas channel 14 is used as cover for opening 50. Connectingunit 60 also acts as connector for cylindrical containers to facilitatehandling. Every gas pocket unit 10 is isolated by welding line 32,therefore the rest of gas pocket unit 10 remain pressurized when one orsome of gas pocket unit 10 is broken and flattened. The protectionfunction of inflated bag for bottles packaging 1 is therefore retainedeven if one or some of gas pocket unit 10 was broken and flattened.

The previous embodiment consists of one pair of connecting unit 60locating on each edge of specific set of main and auxiliary gas pocket11, 12. It connects two set of cylindrical container form by inflatedgas pocket units 10 on each side. By same principle, two or more pairsof connecting unit 60 may be constructed on predetermined set of gaspocket units 10 and making three or more cylindrical spaces for bottles.One of the embodiments is demonstrated in FIG. 8, which showing thefront view of an uncharged inflated bag for bottles packaging 1 havingtwo pairs of connecting unit 60. FIG. 9 showing the perspective view ofthe same embodiment inflated and forming three cylindrical spaces forbottles. Another possible embodiment having gas pocket units 10 whichconsists of only one gas pocket (only main gas pocket 11) is also ableto form plural cylindrical spaces for bottles with the aid of saidconnecting unit 60.

While the invention has been described with referencing to preferredembodiments thereof, it is to be understood that modifications orvariations may be easily made without departing from the spirit of thisinvention, which is defined by the appended claims.

What is clamed is:
 1. An inflated bag for bottles packaging comprisingan upper film a lower film a plurality of gas pocket units which areisolated and side by side between each, each of gas pocket units consistof a main gas pocket having larger width and an auxiliary gas pockethaving smaller width; a welding line having conduits sat between maingas pocket and auxiliary gas pocket; a gas inlet on one side of theinflatable bag a gas channel extended from the gas inlet and connectingto each of main and auxiliary gas pockets, though which gas can beentered; characterized in that the inflatable bag equipped with one pairof connecting unit which locate at each edge of predetermined set ofmain and auxiliary gas pocket; the connecting unit consists of verticalwelding line and horizontal welding line which forms H configuration bybinding the upper and lower film; the connecting unit is completed bycutting out the outer edges to form U shape breaches; and due to thestress relief effect of the breach while the inflatable bag is fullyexpanded by the charged gas, the outer part of the gas pocket unitsbeyond the horizontal welding line are allowed to form the top andbottom side of the two neighboring cylindrical containers which areconnected by connecting unit and are suitable for protecting cylindricalbottles or cans from mechanical impact.
 2. The inflated bag for bottlespackaging as defined in claim 1, wherein two or more pairs of connectingunits be constructed on predetermined set of gas pocket units and forcethe package to form three or more cylindrical spaces for bottles or canswhile the inflatable bag is fully expanded by the charged gas.
 3. Theinflated bag for bottles packaging as defined in claim 1, wherein thegas pocket units consist of only one gas pocket.
 4. The inflated bag forbottles packaging as defined in claim 2, wherein the gas pocket unitsconsist of only one gas pocket.